Luton Shelton (1986 – 2021)
Former Clarets trialist and Jamaican International footballer Luton Shelton has today sadly passed away in his native Jamaica at Andrews Memorial Hospital, St. Andrew, the thirty-five year old was suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Shelton, who was diagnosed with MND in 2018, just one year after his final appearance for his last club Harbour View Football Club, Kingston was discovered at home unresponsive.
Having started his career coming through the ranks at Harbour View he made his name as a regular goalscorer in Jamaican football, before being noticed by Burnley manager Steve Cotterill. The striker was due to move to the Clarets after a successful pre-season trial, but the move never happened as his work permit was rejected and he went on to sign for swedish club Helsingborg for £100,000.
After two seasons in Sweden he moved on to Sheffield United and made his football league debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford in April 2007. He was part of the Blades side that were relegated from the Premier League that season and featured for them in the Championship the following campaign. He left Yorkshire in 2008 to join Norwegian side Valerenga and also had spells in Denmark, Turkey and Russia before heading home to Jamaica.
Former Sheffield United teammate Paddy Kenny paid his respects via social media writing, “Just heard the sad news that my former teammate Luton Shelton from our days at Sheffield United has died. At thirty-five years old it’s way too young. Life is too short so appreciate every day.”
